Time element device



W. M. SCOTT Dec. 6, 1932. EEEE EEEEEEE EEEIEE 3 Re. 18,683 I OriginalFiled Dec. 19, 1924 I N VE N TOR 7 ATTORNEY BY 6 g:

Reissued Dec. 6, p 1932 WILLIAM H. SCOTT, OI TBEDDYFBIN TOWNSHIP,GHESTER'COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA m ELEMENT nnvrca Original m5. 1,848,688,dated limb a, 1932, Serial no. 757,077, med'necember 1a, 1924.Application mreluue filed Kay 21, 1932. Serial No. 612,887.

My invention relates to time-element or start delaying devices, andparticularly such as are applicable to the movable members of systems ofelectromagnets, solenoids and the like.

In accordance with my invention the member whose movement is to bedelayed is restrained by any suitable means, electrical, magnetic ormechanical, or equivalent, and

.10 the restraint is reduced or removed after an elapse of time bthermal means.

More particu ar1y,'in accordance with my invention, thermal meansresponsive to heat' produced by an electric current, controls or exertsa force upon the member to be moved, in such manner that after aninterval of time the member to be moved is freed and thereafter movesunder the influence of an applied force. v

Further, in accordance with my invention, there areprovided means forcompensating for changes oftemperature of the surrounding atmosphere.

My invention resides in apparatus of a character hereinafter describedand claimed.-

For an understanding of my invention and for-illustration of some of thevarious forms it may take, reference is to be had to the accompanyingdrawing in which:

Fig. 1 is aside elevational view of apparatus embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a frontelevation of the apparatus shownin Fig, 1. I

Figs, 3 and 4 are, respectively, side elevational and plan views, onenlarged'scale, of an element of Fig. 1. v Figs. 5 and 6 are,respectively, longitudinal sectional and end elevationa'l views of aheat res .onsive member. igs. 7 and 8 are, respectively, end and sideviewsiof anelement in Fig. 1.

Figs. 9 and 10 are, respectively, side and front views of an element ofFig. 1. v y I Fig. 11 isa fragmentary side elevational view ofa modifiedstructure.

Figs. 12 and 13 are, respectively, side and plan views of an element ofFi 11.

.Fig. 14 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a furthermodification.

Figs. 15 and 16 are, respectively, side and bottom plan views of anelement of Fig. 14. Referring to Figs. .1 to 10 inclusive, M is anelectromagnet or solenoid, whose core '1 is provided with the oles 2 and3. There is represented generically by the member 4 an armature, core orother movalfle member of the magnet or solenoid. In the exampleillustrated it is an armature co-acting with the poles 2 and 3 mountedfor pivotal movement at 5. When the winding of the magnet or solenoid Mis traversed by electric current thereis produced a magnetic fieldeffecting magnetization of the poles 2 and 3 and of the member 4,thereby exerting upon the member 4 a force tending to move it about itspivot 5 toward the pole 2. The member 4 normal] rests upon themagnetizabletip 6b of the a justable stop or screw 6 of non-magnetizablemetal which is carried by the bracket 7 of non-magnetizable material.When thema net is energized, there is exerted between t 0 members 4 andthe magnetizable tip 6b'an attractive force which resists the upwardattraction of the member 4 toward the more distant pole 2, therebyrestraining the member 4 against the eventually desired movement. Therestraining force exerted upon the armature 4 by the magnetizable tip 6bis due to the strayfield induced by the magnet M and is dependent uponintlma'telcontact of the armature 4 with tip 65, which force disappearswhen this contact is broken. To break this contact and thus free themember 4 from restraint, to permit it 'to'move upward about itspivot5,'there is rovided a therinO- responsive mechanism w "ch, after asuitable length of time, in response to heat applied thereto, exerts uon the member ,4 a force suflicient' with t e upwardly acting v magneticforce exerted thereon by the pole-2,

' 16 having at its other end the closure member 12.

There is accordingly formed a sealed or pressure-tight expansiblechamber in which is disposed any suitable gas or liquid which uponelevation of temperature expands, causing longitudinal expansion of thechamber 11 with consequent movement of the member 12 away from the base8.

The member 12 is rovided with earsor lugs 13 in which there 1s pivotedat 14 the upwardly extending lever or bar '15, pivoted at 16 in the earsor lugs 17 carried b the end 8 to ,a' substantially similar extent, withthe closure member 18 of the second t ermo-res onsive device comprisingthe sealed expansi la chamber 19 whose other closure member is securedby screw 20 to the base 8. The chamber 19 is filled with suitable gas orliquid expansible upon temperature change.

The gases or liquids in the chambers 11 and 19 may be similar ordissimilar. In either or both may be utilized carbon tetrachloride,ether, alcohol, or the like, and in general any gas or any liquid orother substance the heating of which will cause expansion of the chamberenclosing it.

The member 15 has the forwardly extending arm or lug 21 through whoseend is threaded adjustable stop or screw 22 adapted .to engage the underside of the member 23, pivoted at 24 in the bracket 25, of nonmagneticmaterial secured to the magnet pole 2. At a distance from the pivot 24the member 23 is provided with a lug or projection 26 adapted to engagethe under side of the armature 4. The lug 26, or both lug 26 and member23, are preferably of brass or other non-magnetic material.

Coiled around the chamber 11 and insulated therefrom is the conductor 27which is connected in any suitable electric circuit whereby, due to theheating effect of the current traversing the resistance 27, thetemperature of the contents of the chamber 11 is raised, causing a slowor delayed outward expansion of the chamber 11.

In the example illustrated, the resistance or conductor 27 is connectedin the same circuit with the winding of the magnet or solenoid M and, asindicated, preferably in series .therewith, whereby the same current.which the base 8, moving the lever 15 in counter-' clockwise directionabout its pivot 16, caus- 'ing the member 22 to rotate the member 23 inclockwise direction about its pivot 24, thereby causing the lug 26 toforce the armature 4 upwardly away from contact with the member 66,whereupon, due to the attraction by magnet M, the armature will rapidlymoveupwardly to the pole face 2.

By the operation described the start of the member 4, after energizationof the magnet M, or after a substantial change in the magnitude of thecurrent traversing the winding 1 I of the magnet M, is delayed for aperiod corresponding with the time required to eflt'ect sufiicientexpansion of the chamber 11.

Inasmuch as the temperature of the atmosphere surrounding the apparatusvaries, the chamber 19 will expand with rise in temperature of theatmosphere, moving the pivot 16 outwardly from the base 8, and similarlyrise in temperature of the atmosphere causes pivot 14 to move outwardlyfrom the base result that the lever 21 has no angular movement aboutpivot 16; thus the position of lever 23 remains unaffected; and armature4 1s therefore not released from restraint except when the temperatureof the contents of chamber 11 materially exceeds the temprature of theatmosphere, thereby causing counter-clockwise movement of lever '15 withresultant clockwise movement of lever 23 about its pivot 24, andconsequent movement of the armature 4 out of engagement with themagnetic tip 6b. The chamber 19 in effect compensates for or renders themechanism the =armature 4 which is magnetized when the winding of themagnet M is energized. In this case the outward movement of the pivot 14again rotates the member 23' in clockwise direction forcibly withdrawingit from armature 4, whereupon the latter'i's free to the attractionexerted by the pole 2.;

In Fig. 14 the arrangement is again, in general, the same. Inon-magnetic material. Pivoted at 24-to the bracket 25 is the latch ordetent 28 whose tail 23a is actuated by the member 22 to free the detentfrom the latch plate or detent plate 29 secured to the armature 4.Either or both of the members 28 and 29 is or are of nonmagneticmaterial.

In this case the restraint upon the member 4 is mechanical, and isremoved by actuation of the detent 28 by the chamber 11 after elapse ofsuitable length of time.

In all the arrangements described the re- The stop 6a is again of'armature 4 in the magnetic field produced by the coil M, exert restraintupon armature 4 by magnetic attraction which Opposes the upwardattraction of the magnetic field of coil M upon the armature 4; thesemagnetizable members determine what shall be the magnitude of thecurrent in coil M and the magnitude of the force exerted by the magneticfield upon the armature 4 to move it to efi'ect' the desired control.When the current through the coil M exceeds a certain magnitude, theattraction between the armature 4 and the member 66, Fig. 1, or themember 23, 26a, Fig. 11, is immediately overcome. irrespective of thetime element device, and the armature 4 is attracted upwardly by thefield of the coil M to effect its controlling movement. For currents oflesser magnitude armature 4 is not attracted or moved upwardly to effectits control movement unless the restraint exerted thereon is overcome orremoved by auxiliary means; more particularly, unless the currentthrough the coil M exceeds the aforesaid certain magn tude, the armature4 is not free to be attracted upwardly by the field produced by the coilM until after an interval of time the restraint on armature 4 isdiscontinued. The time delay device frees the armature 4 the sooner asthe current in resistance 27 is the greater; but when the current incoil M exceeds a predeterm ned magnitude the armature 4 is immediatelyattracted and moves upwardly. either before the time delay device acts,or if before completion of its action the current in coil M exceeds thepredetermined magnitude. The structure is, in one of its aspects, suchthat for current less than a predetermined magnitude there is introduceda time delay, and for current greater than a predetermined magnitude theattraction of the armature 4 is immediate.

Movement of the member or armature 4 may be utilized for any suitablepurpose as, for example. actuating the latch or other restraining meansof an electric switch. such for example as an automatic magnetic c rcuitf breaker of which the magnet M may be the overload magnet, or oneresponsive to rise 1n line voltage. or to any other desired electricalcondition.

In the example illustrated, however, the member 4 is the armature of theelectro-magnetic relay controlling or actuating the movable contacts 30and 31. electrically connected to each other and carried by the armature4,

.and adapted to engage and bridge co-acting stationary relay contacts 32included in any circuit to be controlled. as for example in the circuitof the electromagnet utilized to control the restraining means or latchof an electric switch or circuit breaker.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a movable member comprising a magnetizableelement, of current-controlled means for exerting a force thereon tomove it, means for restraining said member, heat responsive means fortransmitting force to free said member from said restraining means, andheat responsive means compensating for the e'fiect of changes oftemperature of atmosphere upon said first named heat responsive means.

2. The combination with a magnet winding, of a movable magnetizablemember coacting therewith, means dependent upon the effect of saidwinding for restraining said member against movement, heat responsivemeans for freeing said movable member from said restraining means toermit the attraction of said Winding to e ect further movement of saidmember, and electrical means for applying heat to said heat responsivemeans.

3. The combination with a magnet winding, of a movable. magnetizablemember coacting therewith, means for restraining said member againstmovement, heat responsive means for freeing said movable member fromsaid restraining means, electrical means for applying heat to said heatresponsive means, and heat responsive means for compensating for theeffect upon said first named heat responsive means of changes oftemperature of the atmosphere.

4. The combination with a magnet winding, of a movable magnetizablemember coacting therewith, means for restraining said movable membercomprising a relatively stationary member between which and said movablemember there is effected magnetic attraction, and heat responsive meansfor separating said members from each other.

5. The combination with a magnet winding, of a movable magnetizablemember coacting therewith, means for restraining said member againstmovement, and heat responsive means for freeing said member from saidrestraining means comprising an expansible chamber, a member actuated inresponse to expansion of said chamber, and a member actuated by saidlast named member for freeing said movable magnetizable member.

6. The combination with a magnet winding, of a movable magnetizablemember coacting therewith, means for restraining said member againstmovement, and heat responsive means for freeing said member from saidrestraining means comprising an expansible chamber, a member actuated inresponse to expansion of said chamber, a member actuated by said last'named member for freeing said movable magnetizable member, andelectrical means'for applying heat to said chamber.

. 7. The combination with a magnet winding, of a movable magnetizablemember cowinding for applying heat to said chamber.

' '8. The combination with a magnet winding, of a movable magnetizablemember coaoting therewith, means for restraining said member againstmovement, and means for freeing said member from said restraining meanscomprising a plurality of expansible chambers, a member pivoted to amovable wall of each of said chambers for freeing said movablemagnetizable member, said cham berssubjected to changes of temperatureof the atm0sphere,and electrical means energized concurrently-with saidwinding for ap-' plying heat to one of said chambers.

9. The combination with a magnet winding, of a movable magnetizablemember coacting therewith, and means for delaying start of said movablemember comprisin a plurality of expansible chambers, a mem er pivoted tomovable walls of said chambers, a third member'a'ctuated by said secondnamed member for actuating said movable magnet-- izable member to startit, said chambers subjected to varying temperatures of the atmosphere,and electrical means energized concurrently with said winding forapplying heat to one of said chambers.

10. The combination with a magnet winding, of a movable magnetizablemember co- 7 acting therewith, means for restraining said member againstmovement, and means for delaying start of said movable member comprisinga plurality of members movable in response to change of a temperature, amember whose position depends upon the relative positions of saidtemperature responsive members for freeing said movable member to startit, and electrical means energized concurrently with said winding forapplying additional heat to one of said temperature responsive members.

11. The combination with a magnet wind ing, of a movable magnetizablemember coacting tberewithQmagnetic means exerting restraint upon saidmember in opposition to the attraction exerted thereon by the field ofsaid winding, and means for actuating said member to free it fron. saidrestraint.

12. The'combinationwitha magnet winding, of a movable magnetizablemember coacting therewith, magnetic means exerting restraint upon saidmember in opposition to the attraction exerted thereon by the field ofsaid winding, and heat-responsive means for freeing said member fromsaid restraint.

13. The combination with a magnet winding, of a movable magnetizablemember coacting therewith, magnetic means exerting restraint upon saidmember in opposition to the attraction exerted thereon by the field ofsaid winding, said magnetizable member upon occurrence of current insaid winding in excess of apredetermined magnitude overcoming saidrestraint and moving in the field of said winding, and means for freeingsaid member from said restraint for current in said winding of amagnitude less than said predetermined magnitude.

14. The combination with a magnet winding, of a movable magnetizablemember 00- acting therewith, magnetic means exerting restraint upon saidmember in opposition to the attraction exerted thereon by the field ofsaid win ding, and electro-responsive time-delay means for freeing saidmember from said restraint after a time interval to permit movement ofsaid member by the attraction of said win-ding. I I

' 15. The combination with a magnet winding, of a movable magnetizablemember coacting therewith, magnetic means exerting restraint upon saidmember in opposition to restraint upon said member in opposition tothe-attraction exerted thereon by the field of said winding, saidmagnetizable member upon occurrence of current in said winding in excessof a predetermined magnitude overcoming said restraint and immediatelymoving in the field of said winding, and means for freeing saidmagnetizable member from said restraint after a time interval whoseduration is dependent upon the magnitude of current in said winding.

17. The combination with a switch, of a magnet winding, a magnetizablemember movable in the field of said winding for controlling said switch,magnetic means exerting restraint upon said magnetizablemember inopposition to the attraction exerted thereon by the field of saidwinding, and electro-respon'sive means for freeing saidmagnetizable-member from said restraint for switch-controlling movementof said member in the field of said winding. g

18. The combination with a switch, of a magnet winding, a magnetizablemember movable in the field of said winding for controlling said switch,magnetic means exerting restraint upon said magnetizable member inopposition to the attraction exerted thereon by the field of saidwinding, and means for freeing said magnetizable member from saidrestraint in response to duration for a time interval of a condition inan electric circuit to permit switch-controlling movement of saidmagnetizable member in the field of said winding.

19. The combination with a switch, of a magnet winding for inclusion inan electric circuit, a magnetizable member movable in the field of saidwinding for controlling said switch, magnetic means exerting restraintupon said member in opposition to the attraction exerted thereon by thefield of said winding, said magnetizable member upon occurrence ofcurrent in said winding in excess of a predetermined magnitudeovercoming said restraint and moving in the field of said wind ing, andmeans responsive to conditions in said circuit for freeing said memberfrom said restraint when the current in said winding is of a magnitudeless than said predetermined magnitude.

20. The combination with a switch, of a magnet winding, 9. magnetizablemember movable in the field of said winding for controlling said switch,magnetic means exerting restraint upon said member in opposition to theattraction exerted thereon by the field of said winding, saidmagnetizable member upon occurrence of current in said winding in excessof a predetermined magnitude overcoming said restraint and immediatelymoving in the field of said winding, and means for freeing saidmagnetizable member from said restraint in response to duration for aninterval of time of a condition in an electric circuit to permitswitch-controlling movement of said magnetizable member in the field ofsaid winding.

21. The combination with a magnet, of a magnetizable member movable inresponse to the effect thereon of the field of said magnet, and aplurality of heat-responsive devices subjected respectively to differenttemperatures and ointly controlling said magnetiza ble member.

22. The combination with a magnet winding, of a movable armaturecoacting therewith, magneticstop structure for normally restrainingmovement of said armature by the field of said winding, and means formoving the armature from said stop structure to permit the attraction ofsaid field to effect further movement of the armature.

23. The combination with a magnet winding, of a movable armaturecoacting therewith, magnetic stop structure for normally restrainingmovement of said armature by the field of said winding, andcurrent-respon-

